Easy Hot Cross Buns Recipe
Soft, fluffy, and perfectly spiced, this easy recipe for homemade hot cross buns will be sure to please your family this coming Easter!
Servings: 12 buns
Calories: 232kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 2 tablespoons water warm
- 2 ¼ teaspoon dry active yeast
- 1 cup milk whole milk, warm
- 2 tablespoons butter softened
- ⅓ cup sugar more if you want buns more sweet
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 large egg room temperature
- 3 ⅓ cup all-purpose flour use up to ⅓ cup more flour if needed
- ½ teasoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup raisins finely chopped
For the Sugar Glaze
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup sugar
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine warm water and active dry yeast. Let it sit for about 5 minutes to dissolve.
- While the yeast is dissolving, take a stand mixer bowl and mix together warm milk, butter, and sugar using a spoon. Once the yeast is ready, add it to the milk mixture along with an egg and whisk until combined.
- Then add flour and cinnamon, and mix using a hook attachment until the dough forms (it should form a dough on top of the bowl but it will be sticking to the bottom of the bowl, thats what we are looking for).
- Add chopped raisins and mix until combined. Place the dough in a greased bowl, brush with melted butter, cover, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until it doubles in size.
- After that, divide the dough into 12 pieces, roll each piece into a ball, and place them on a greased baking sheet lined with parchment paper or greased baking dish, making sure to leave space between each ball.
- Cover with greased plastic wrap and let it rest in a warm place until it doubles in size, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, water, and sugar. Place the dough into a small ziplock bag, then snip the corner and slowly form crosses on top of the buns.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until golden in color.
- To make a glaze, in a saucepan mix together water and sugar, bring it to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 3 minutes, then brush it over the hot buns. Enjoy!
Notes
- If you're using plastic wrap over the dough that is resting, don't forget to grease one side so it doesn’t stick.
- You can also use a powdered sugar glaze to form the cross, but save this step for after baking.
- I personally love the look of the glaze and the added sweetness, but feel free to skip it if you prefer. Alternatively, you can use an egg wash if you want a less sweet but still beautiful finish.
- If you're using a glaze, consider adding some extra flavor to it by mixing powdered sugar and orange juice.
- For those who want to spice things up, consider using nutmeg and allspice in addition to the cinnamon for some extra flavor.
Nutrition
Calories: 232kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 225mg | Potassium: 110mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 114IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 2mg